Dancing toy



May 14, 1929. w, FURMAN 1,713,430

DANCING TOY Filed May 5, 1928 Full. 16

WITNESSES INVENTOR l WFmwzazz Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES ISAAC W. FURMA N, OF CENTER MORICHES, NEW YORK.

DANCING TOY.

Application filed May 3, 1928. Serial No. 274,826.

This invention relates to figure toys and more particularly to dancing figures or dolls, and has for an object to provide improved means for supporting such figures or dolls in such relation to the rotary turn tableof a phonograph or the like that the operation of the phonograph will produce motions simulating dancing.

A further object is to produce such a toy in which various adjustments are provided by means of which the figures it may produce motions in consonance with they music being played.

A further object is to provide such a toy in which the figures are capable of a regulated lateral adjustment with respect to the support and with the turntable of the phonograph.

Other objects and advantages Wlll be apparent as the description proceeds and while shown in connection with a phonograph, it will be understood that it may be used in connection with any rotary table or the like.

In the drawings;

Figure l is a perspective View of the toy as applied to a phonograph or the like.

Fig. :2 is a top plan view of the same with the figures or dolls removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail View of the means for anchoring the ends of its support.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5 indicates the top or casing of a talking machine, phonographor the like and 6 the rotary turntable adapted to receive the ordinary records, 7 being the usual center post.

The phonograph may be of any known type, within which is arranged a spring motor mechanism for driving the turntable and center post.

The usual tone arm 8 which carries at one end the reproducer 9 and the stylus 10, may be used as is usual in this type of machine.

To the top of the casing of the phonograph at opposite sides of the turntable, are secured as by screws, the sockets 11, which are provided with oppositely extending feet 12, the screws passing through the feet.

13 designates a thin narrow piece of flexible metal which is bowed and bent around at its ends to form elongated eyes 14 which are dropped over the sockets 11, forming a semi-circular fence or guard around the turntable, being set off slightly from the turntable, its function being just to keep the figures on the turntable.

The figures used are of the usual articulated character, and the main support for these include an overhead flexible wire 15 which is formed into generally semi-circular shape and bent at about its center to form a loop or eye 16 from which is hung by a' cord 17 the vibratory support bar 18 or walking beam; bar 18 is provided with hook ends 19, and a central offset 20, in which latter is fastened the cord 17 by which the bar 18 is flexibly suspended from the overhead wire support 15; the upper surface of the beam bar 18 is corrugated as indicated by 21, through which the bar may be vibrated by a rubbing or reciprocating action of a separate bar as by manual action to cause additional movements to the figures 22 through the strings 23; these corrugations also permit of lateral adjustment of the figures toward or away from the center 20 of the bar.

It will be noted that the figures can be hung in different radial positions with respect to the turntable or disk record, hence the steps produced can be made quicker or slower according to the tempo of the music.

The figures can of course be adjusted vertically by means of the various cords so that the degree of contact of the feet of the figures with the rotary table, can be varied so that the character ofthe steps may be made more interesting; or the entire support 15 can be adjust-edvertically by raising or lowering its ends in the sockets 11.

The figure 'bodies have their arms and legs loosely jointed together to freely bend, swing and toss about in a well known manner while being acted on by the rotary table and cause the figure bodies to go through the movements of modern dancers, and a rubbing movement on the corrugated suspension bar 18 will tend to cause the figure bodies to move inwardly and outwardly thereon to cause the same'to approach and recede, and impart to the figures a vibrating or shimmying motion.

From the foregoingdescription, the construction and operation of the various parts will be readily understood, and it will be seen that my invention provides a device that may be readily applied to any ordinary phonograph and driven by the mechanism thereof so as to be actuated while the composition is being rendered.

However, I do not wish to limit my invention strictly to use as an attachment for phonographs, as it may be independently employed, in fact, with any rotary table or plate.

I claim:

1. The combination with a phonograph and its rotating table, of a support extending thereover, a plurality of articulated figure bodies suspended therefrom, and in movable contact with said table, and a fence guard extending ciroumferentially of said table and independent thereof.

2. The combination with a phonograph and its rotating table, of a supporting member extending thereover, a pair of vertical posts at opposite sides of the table the ends of the support removab-ly associated with said posts, a plurality of articulated figure bodies flexibly suspended from said support and in movable contact with said table, and a fence guard surrounding said table but independent thereof said fence guard comprising a curved plate having eyes adapted to engage said vertical posts.

3. The combination with a phonograph and its rotating turn-table, a supporting member extending thereover, a beam bar flexibly suspended from said supporting member, and articulated figure bodies flexibly suspended from'the opposite ends of said beam bar, and adapted for movable contact with said rotating table.

4:. A device as set forth in claim 3, the beam bar having its upper face corrugated and provided with hook ends.

5. The combination ith a rotating disc, of a bowed main supporting member extending over said disc and having its opposite ends removably mounted at opposite sides of the disc a transverse hanger bar flexibly suspended midway its ends from said bowed suppora and a plurality of dancing figuresfiexibly and adjustably supported from said hanger bar on opposite sides of its suspension point.

ISAAC W. FURMAN. 

